Digging apparatus.



J. M. SWONGER.

mecmc APPARATUS. 1

APPLICATION FILED MAR-31.1917- 152373578 v I Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

lvwmaloz J. M, SWONGER.

DIGGING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 31. 1917.

, Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEEY 2.

Jar 15$ M. SWONGER atto'cuagg To all whom it may concern:

JAMES SWONGER, or MAN FIELD,- OHIO.

I DIGGINIeArrAmi-rUs.

' Specificationofi Letters Patent. Patented, Aug. 21 1917 Applicationfiled March 31, 1917. Serial No. 158,920.

Be it known that I, Jnrrns M. SWONGER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Mansfield, in the county of Rlchl'and and State of Ohio, have inventedcertainnew and useful Improvements in Digging Apparatus,

i of which-the following is .a specification, reference being had tothe accompanying draW- ings.. v r

This invention relates to certain improvements in digging. apparatus and it is an 7 object of the invention to provide an apparatus of, this general character: including a digging member adapted to penetrate the material to be workedand whichtalso serves as a bucket to hoist the 'material loosened Y thereby.

It is also; an ob e ct of the invention to provide a noveland; improved apparatus off this generalcharacter including a ground working element of tubular construction. and

the digging member may serve. to remove material; loosened thereby" Furthermorev it is anob1ectof theinvention to provide'a novel and improved app- I paratus of this; general character including a ground engaging member slidably engaged;

with ,arguideway and wherein said ground engaging member is adapted to penetrate the work or material by gravital-.force.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combinationand arrangement of the several parts of my improved: apparatus whereby certamimportant advantages are attained and the devlce is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary view n elevation illustrating a digging apparatus constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a View in side'elevation of the device as shown in Fig. 1 with the nap in open posltiong Y F 1g. 3 1s a vlew device as herein. set forth; and

Fig. 45 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation: of the device as herein embodied, the section being taken on a line at right angles to the section in. Fig.3;

Aisdi'sclosed the accompanying drawing's, 1'1 denote elongated guideways preferably tubular and which are adapted to be disposed within a shaft or other openingand which. are connected at their upperor outer ends by the transverse members 2 substantially permanently secured thereto and also connected by the'cross member 3 slidably engaged with the guides, 1' and which cross member serves as a buffer.

.Interposed between the cross member 3 andthe adjacent cross member 2 are the I I partly in elevation and I partly in section taken longitudinally of the expansible members 4: herein disclosed as I conventional coil springs encircling the guides 1;. Coactmg wlth one of the guides 1 1s a pump P of any ordinary or preferred type and which affords a means whereby water may be readily withdrawn from an operation when the requirements so. necessitate. a

D denotes my. improved digging: member which is substantially rectangular in cross section and providedat itssides with the outstandingeyes 5 freelvengaged with the guides 1 whereby it will be at once noted that the digging member D is mountedfor movement in a fixed line oftravel. The

lower portion of a face of the digging member D comprises a hingedfiap 6 while the lower endof the oppositewall or face of 1 the member D is provided with the entering edge or blade 7. In practice the flap 6 is normally in an open position and which open position is normally maintained by the spring arm 8 pivotally engaged with the flap 6 and a side of the member D.

In operation the member D is elevated to substantially the top of the guides 1 and then allowed to drop and the gravital force of the member D results in the same penetrating the material or work.

The digging member D is adapted to be elevated in any conventional manner and includes a flexible cable 9 leading from a suitable hoisting means and extending within the member through the open top thereof The cable 9 is also disposed through the 40, Y standingvlugs 15 which serve to limit the tubular member 11 secured within the digging member D so that said cable is protected against contact by the material received within the member D. The tubular member 11- terminates below the upper end of the flap 6 so that the requisite closing movement is imparted to the flap 6 through the mediumof the cable 9.

After the member D has been permitted to drop and penetrate the material or work the requisite strain is imposed upon the ca ble 9 to elevate or hoist the member D. It

will be at once self-evident'that the strain imposed upon the cable 9 will cause the flap 6 toassume a closed position whereby the digging member D will serve as a bucket to remove the material loosened thereby. After the member D has been elevated as required the flap 6 will be opened to discharge the contents of the member D.

It is also preferred that the cable 12 be secured to the upper end of the digging member D. -The cables 9 and 12 are directed around the pulleys 14 loosely mounted upon the outer or upper cross member 2. The cables 9 and 12 are adapted to be operatively engaged with a suitable hoisting apparatus and in practice after the member D has been properly elevated the cable 12 is operated to permit a slight drop of the member D so that the cable 9 will cause the flap 6 to assume an open position so that the "material within the member D may be readily and conveniently dumped.

I also findit of advantage to provide the hinged end of the flap 6 and the adjacent wall of the digging member D with the outoutward movement of the flap 6.

From the foregoing description,

throught to be obvious that a digging apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of 7 Copies of this patent may be obtained for v ber' independently of the flap.

it is' the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without material departure from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice, except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1Q An apparatus of the character described comprising a guideway, a hollow digging member slidably engaged therewith, a lower portion of the member comprising a hinged flap, a flexible lifting means coacting with the member, said lifting means being operatively engaged with the flap whereby said flap is closed upon lifting of the digger, a

tubular member secured within the digging member andthrough which the flexible lifting means is directed, and a se'condlifting means'secured to the digging memberinde- 5 pendently of the flap.

2. An apparatus of the character described r comprising a guideway, a hollow digging member slidably engaged therewith, the

lower portion of the'member comprising a hinged'flap, a flexible lifting means co-acting with the member, said lifting means being operatively engaged with the flap whereby said flap is closed'upon lifting of the digger, a tubular member secured within the member and to the face thereof opposite the hinged flap, said tubular member having-its inner end terminating below the hinged end of the flap, said flexible lifting means being disposed through the tubular member, and

a lifting means secured to the digging mem- In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in-the presence of two'witnesses.

JAMES M. SWONGER.

Witiuesses: I

JOSEPH B. LINDLEY, MARY E. SCIOR.

Washington; D. 0. 

